Vignette Three: Unguarded

Summary: "Hey Orangey, wanna skip gym with me?"

A/N: This little bit – longer than the last, but not by much – is told through Arisa Uotani's PoV. Just a little drabble that I thought up as I skipped BPE today. I'm a bad girl sometimes, I know. ;)

Oh, and for those interested, see my bio page for a link to pictures of my Halloween costume…Uo/Kyoko's Suicide Squad Jacket. It's worth a look, if you're up for it.

xxxxx

"Hey Orangey, wanna skip gym with me?" I looked over to where the Sohma was leaning against the wall. "I really don't want to run today. It's too hot outside."

Yuki shot Kyo a fierce glare. "I'm not bailing you out when you get caught."

"Don't worry, Princy, I never get caught." I winked at him before looking back at Kyo. "Come on, I know you want to. Besides, I already know Tohru and Hana won't do it."

The boy shrugged. "I guess. Better than spending the whole class with that stupid rat."

As usual, this comment went over my head. The whole cat-rat thing was so confusing sometimes. Why did Yuki even tolerate being called a rat? It made no sense. Oh well. "Good," I said, breaking my thoughts. "Let's go."

I waited patiently as he pushed himself away from the wall and came toward me. "We'll be out back. Come get us when class is over."

Kyo came up at my side. "'Out back?' Where is that?"

"Right where I said, stupid. Out back – behind the school."

"Oh." He furrowed his eyebrows as he followed me. "And you've never been caught?"

"Nope. I used to be a student delinquent, remember? I know all the ins and outs of cutting classes…among other things." I left it at that and he didn't question me further.

The sun was glaringly bright as we exited through doors beside the currently unused janitor hall. I trudged cheerfully up and over a small hill until the building was out of sight. Even though I was long past skipping the more important core classes, I still got a thrill each time I got away with the little ones. I'm not a bad girl…really…I'm not. Hear how serious I am?

"This is it, huh?" Kyo asked, looking around in appreciation at my little spot. It was back in the woods, where we wouldn't be seen. The trees, sparse as they were, gave a gentle respite from the sun and heat.

"Yeah. Found it first year." I pointed to my left. "If you keep going that way you get to the main road. You could leave and go home now, if you wanted. I've done it once or twice."

"Haven't your parents figured it out by now?"

I exhaled loudly. "Don't you know even the smallest thing about me?" At his obstinate silence, I chucked and said, "I live alone, smart guy."

He looked at me. Somewhere in that thick scull I think he finally figured out that family matters were a sore spot for me. I could see in his eyes that the same went for him. He never looked at me so unguardedly like that. It was kinda unnerving.

"You know what?" I asked as this small revelation sunk in. His eyes never left mine. "I think you and I could be pretty good friends."

That was the first time I had ever seen him smile.

End vignette three.